Rotary engine



Aug. 6, 1935.

J. ARCHBOLD ET AL ROTARY 'ENGINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. '7, 1931 ROTARY ENGINE Filed Jan. '7, 1951 Y3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 6,1935." J. ARcHBoLD AL ROTARY ENGINE Filed Jan; '7, 19251.` 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 venters int Patented Aug. 6, 1935 PATENT osx-fici;

y as claims. (o1. 12a-,13)

This invention `relates to rotary internal comibus'tionv engines and particularly to that type `which Iare,oilicially class'ied as rotary internal combustion engines, rotary abutment; though some of the improvements herein described niight be applied to rotary engines of other classes, and

-to `other organizations of the rotary type, such as motors, pumps or the like. t

' i The general objects of the invention are-Y First, to produce a rotary engine ofthe type specified whereinl reciprocating parts are `vdispensed with altogether, `resulting in simplicity of `design and a minimum numberof moving parts, all of which are rotary, with the consequent `ad vantages of compactness, relatively low cost of construction and relatively high eiiiciency;

Second, to produce an engine of the type specied wherein high power is obtained in a smooth continuous manner and at relatively low speed of operation,V resulting in reliability and relative economy of operation;

Third, to produce an engine of the type speci- :having a system of` ports offvery simple design;

`lied wherein :the rotary abutments constitute in effect a continuous solid wall in relation to the piston members; y

Fourth, to produce arotary engine so designed lthat the lforceof the explosions takes effect at `the point that yields maximum eiliciency;

Fifth, to produeean engine .of the typerspeci- `ned-Wherein both sides of allthe moving partspiston members and abutments-are utilized eontinuously; i i

Sixthfto produce an engine of the .type speci- `fied wherein ,the .entire periphery of therotor is utili-Zed at all times: l i

Seventh. to produce an `engine of the type speciobliquely disposed at suitabledistances apart on @neef the two ,rotary abutments that are located the rim of the rotor, and wherein the abutments have the form of rings, which may be, for exam `ple, annular flanges at the edges of rotary disks yenes, `the parts being so shaped and proportioned `that while a vane is passing through aan aperture a Huid-tight joint is formed;

drawings-flied having a greater. range of effective werking (2') To produce, by means of the above speciiied oblique arrangement of vanes and the corresponding -passageways through the abutment flange, an abutment such that, though in constant 'rotary motion, it is alwaysl in position (being 5 "practically a continuous annular wall) instead of -one that is moved into and out of `position inter `mittentlyl; v

`(3) To utilize to a maximum degree the peripheral capacity'ofthe rotor by combining thex-e- 10 with a duplicate set of abutments; v

(4) To mount the abutments in tangential relation to the rotor, whereby the abutment wall Vis in positiony to present the maximum resistance to the shock of explosions; Y 5

'(5) To produce a. rotary internal combustion engine in which the abutments are geared directly to the rotor and are enclosed withinthe stator, which, among other advantages, ensures perfect timing of the oorrelatedparts and general ac- '20 curacy of operation;

(6) I'o produce an engine of "the type specified (7) To produce anengine .of the specified type wherein are no valves or simil-ar moving parts, 25 andin which none of the major operations de.- pend upon the action of springs;

(8) `To produce an engine of thespecied type whereinlthe phases of intake and'exhaust are practically uninterrupted.

30 The invention and theatre-ve stated other cbr jects realized thereby will be better understood from the following description in connection with :the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of. the .inventiouin which 35 Fig. .1 is ,a frentelevation: Fig. 2 is a View in vertical section on .a larger scale showing the iront .face 4of the rotor in g1g.

ration;` a Y 4 Y 1 l 4o Fig 3 is e transverse secties substantially en vline 3--3 of Fig. 2:v

Fig. i is a sectional View Qn line 4.-(-4 .of` Fig. 3, but with .the parts in relative positions different from those they occupy as shown wis Fig. 2,;

Fig, 5 is a top sideview ons4 smaller seele of et the explosionpoints i Figs. 6, 'l and 8 are diagrammatic views illus,- tratingdifferent relative positions, respectively. 5' `0f the rotor and one `of the ebutments .shown in Figui); and

, Figs-Sand .10 are detail views op an enlarged rstale showing parts ef one of tbeabutments..

, The main parts `er elements et' the engine, are s;

`thereto are the abutments.

the rotor, the stator and the rotary abutments. The rotor is constituted by a wheel 2|) keyed on a shaft 29 and having a hub 2|, the opposite projecting ends of said hub being journalled respectively in recesses in the side walls 22 of the casing or stator member (Fig. 3). Said stator member 4B is of generally circular form viewed from the front (Fig. l) and is supported on a suitable base 4|, the, form'and character of which will depend upon the-use to which the engine is to be put and the conditions in which it is to be employed.

The circular part of stator di), which contains the rotor is of a diameter somewhat greater than that of the latter so that an annular space 27 is formed between the rim 23 of the rotor and the adjacent concave surface of the stator (Fig. 2). Said rotor has a series of radial vanes 28a 28h, 28e, 23d, 28e, 281, which extend obliquely across the rim 23 thereof and are of such height that their upper curved edges are flush with the concave surface of `the chamber within which the rotor is housed. These vanes serve therefore to divide the annular space 2l into a series of compartments, which constitute peripheral chambers travelling with the rotor. The explosions take place in these chambers, the vanes performing the function of pistons. Because of the obliquity of vanes 28 the peripheral chambers are of rhombcidal form; that is, successive chambers partly overlap or lie side by side. The importance of this arrangement will be explained hereafter.

,Cooperating with the rotor and geared directly As shown, the abutments proper are in the form of rings 26, which, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, constitute flanges at the rims of the several disks 3E). Said rings or flanges 2t are of relatively little -height (Fig. 2), but of considerable thickness,

the robject being to withstand the shock of the explosions, and also (and principally) to make a tight joint entirely across the rim of the rotor where the flange is crossing the latter. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings,rthere are four abutment disks and there is advantage in having four or more, although there need be only two.

The rim of rotor 2S is provided with obliquely disposed gear teeth 24. These are parallel with the vanes 28, which also perform the function of gear teeth. The edges of the abutment rings or anges 26 have gear teeth 25 for engagement with teeth 241 on rotor 2t, and have also apertures 3| at intervals corresponding to vanes 28 on the rotor. yThese apertures 3| extend the full height of flange 25 (Fig. 9) and are of such shape that a vane 28 in engaging and passing through one of them fills it completely, forming therewith a fluidltight joint. The'importance of this feature of construction will appear later on. Just as each vane 28 occupies the place and performs the function of one of the teeth 24, in addition to its own proper function, so likewise each aperture-3| occupies the place of a space between adjacent teeth 25 on the abutment ange, being merely of greater height. The teeth 21|, 25 are of the character of 'spiral gearing and the dimensions and shape thereof are matters within the skill of the expert gear cutter.

It will be seen that the axes of the abutment wheels 3i) are not in the plane of the rotor, but

are offset with reference thereto as clearly shown Iin Figs. 2, 3 and 4.' The extent of this displacement depends upon two things:v First, the degree of Obliquity 'of the vanes 28 and teeth 24 on-the rim of the rotor, and second, the size of the abutment wheels relative to that of the rotor. It is preferred to arrange vanes 28 and teeth 24 at an angle of forty-five degrees with the plane of rotation of the rotor, and (for a reason stated below) to make the abutment disks of a size relative to the rotor (in diameter) as ve to six. These being the structural conditions, the abutment disks will be so located that the intersection of their flanges 26 with the plane of rotation of the rotor 2() will be at right angles with the vanes 28 and teeth 24 (see Fig. 4)

It will also be seen that teeth 25 have sides that are slightly convex, giving them an oval contour (Fig. 4). The reason is that teeth 24 and vanes 2B in passing between adjacent teeth 25 do not follow a straight line parallel to the latter but tilt a little, so to speak, first one way and then the other. The curvature of the sides of teeth 25 is such as to allow for this tilt or change of direction and to maintain contact between the intermeshing teeth 24 and 25; and what is of even more importance it permits vanes 28 to make a close fit, and hence a tight joint, with the corresponding apertures 3| in the abutment flanges In the preferred embodiment of the invention there are iive apertures or passageways 3| in each abutment flange, whereas there are six vanes 28 on the rotor, the relative arrangement o .be possible, however, as stated above, to embody the invention in an engine having but two abutment disks; and there might be, of course, a larger number than four. v

There is an advantage also in having six vanes. This will be evident as the explanation proceeds; but the number may be greater or less than six.

Because of the Obliquity of `vanes 28 the explosions exert a lateral pressure on the rotor wheel 22, the direction of this pressure being from left to right of the plane of rotation of the rotor. To oppose the eiect'of this lateral pressure it is deemed advantageous to provide thrust bearings, preferably in the form of anti-friction balls 39 (Fig. 3) between the right hand end of hub 2| of the rotor and the adjacent wall 22 of the stator.

The abutment wheels 3i) are contained in housings of corresponding shape forming parts of the stator element. Each housing comprises a dishshaped. member 12, which may be integral with casing it of the stator, and a cover member 43 attached to member 42 as by bolts 45. Member 43 has a central boss 44 having a recess which forms one of the bearings for the hub 36 of the abutment wheel (Fig. 2), the other bearing thereof being in a correspondingly located recess in member 42.

Boss Ml also contains a compression spring 48 which causes the flange 26 of abutment wheel 30 vto bear with yielding pressure against thenrim 2,3

of the rotor, forming a fluid-tight joint. The

`pressure of spring 4'8 `of, screw 49.

mansion abutments. .at these compression and expansion abutments, `between thelcompression `and the expansion lof can be regulatedby means The abutment wheels 30 are preferably so mounted that their planes `of rotation are ap- ,proximately tangential to rotor wheel 20.

Of the four abutment wheelswhose positions are indicated inFigs. 1 and 2,` two` perform duty zin connection with the intake and the exhaust Yof the gaseous charge; These are the abutments 30 (Fig. 2) one atthe upper left hand corner of the sheet, the other diametrically opposite.

'Ihese aretermedherein the intakeiand exhaust the charge.

In the Working of the engine the complete cycle `of operations comprises five that are. essential,

namely: (l) 4the intake of the charge; (2) the compression thereof; (3) the transfer thereof;

v(4) the explosion `and expansion; (5) `the exhaust.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawings this complete cycleof operations takes place twice for each of the six `vanes 28 in eachrevolution of the rotor' 20, certain of the cooperating parts being duplicated, as for example the abutment disks. i 1 'i Further `itis to be noted that each of the speci- .ed operations takes place always in vthe same sector of the stator member.l

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the drawings, the five specified operations which constitute a cycle-intake, compression, transfer, explosion and exhaust- Ltake place in thevfollowing manner: l

Immediately following `the intake, the compression of the charge takes place in a peripheral chamber of the rotor between one of the piston vanes and one side (in this embodiment of the invention, the concaveside) of the ring or ange 26 of one of the abutment disks 300i` (Fig. 6).

When the port 35 in said disk comesinto registration with one end of the transfer passage 3l!` in the stator member (Fig. 7) the transfer operation begins, and it continues until the parts reach the positions shown in Fig. 8. Explosion of the compressed charge,which has been transferred to the opposite side of the piston vane 2B and to the convex side of the 'flange 2,6 of disk 30a, takes place at thesparkplugS. P.; and the exhaust of the products of combustion takes place at port 33 of the next abutment`3. These successive operations, which forma complete cycle.

f will be described more' in detail hereafter.

In the course of a cycle of the fvemain operations specified above, the transfer of the charge fromthe fore side of a vane 28 to the rear there-` of, and from the concave to the convex side of an abtument flange, takes place between the compression and the 'explosion of the charge. There are features connected with this transfer of the charge that call for special attention, as will be seen later on. l

, The duplication ofthe cooperating parts, that is to say the fact that there are identical operations simultaneously taking place vat diametrically opposite points of the rotor, has important advantages and conduces to the accomplishment of certain of the objects ofthe invention set forth above; but it is not `an essential feature thereof.` .75`

` It should be observed in this connection that the described operations constituting a complete `.cycle do `not follow each other in strict sequence,

one beginning sharply where the next preceding yends (as for example in the case of the well known Otto gas engine) but on the contrary they overlap, as will be presently explained. `This too has important advantages, specially in that it permits the continuous utilization of both sides of the several vanes or piston members and of ,both sides of the abutment rings or flanges. This conduces ,to compactness, reliability, efciency, smoothness of operation, and increase of Arelative power.`

.In Fig. 4 three of the vanes or piston members are seen-28e the lowermost,rthen 28d next above, and 28e near. the top. Of these, the middle one, 28d, is in the actof passing lthrough the aperture provided for .that ,purpose inflangel of abutment wheel 30 (this being one of the pair of intake and exhaust abutments) The intake port 32 is seen in the stator wall 22 adjacent `tothe periphery of the abutment wheel 3U. The form of that port and the means for supplying the explosive charge thereto will be explained hereafter.

,At this point we are concerned only with the cycles `of operations that take place in the peripheral chambers of the rotor.

It will be seen from Figs. 3 and 4 that the exhaust port `33 is in the stator wall adjacent to the concave side of the abutment flange 2B. and

that it communicates With a discharge pipe 31.

No valves or other devices are 'employed in connection with either the intake or the discharge operations.

At 'the time that vane 28d is just beginning (as in Fig.-4) Yto draw in behind it a fresh charge through intake 32, it is still pushing out beforev it through exhaust port 33 the gaseous products' of the last preceding explosion.

. The positions of ports 32 and 33 relative to each other and to the abutment wheels being noted, itwill be seen from Fig. 4 that the peripheral chamber or compartment between vane 28d and vane 28e has nearly finished the operation of drawing 'in' by suction a fresh charge of explosive mixture through intake port 32. What calls for specialpnotice is that, in this position ofthe moving parts, said chamber is divided by the flange 26 of abutment wheel 30 into` two parts, and that, in that position of the parts, vane 28d is in the act of passing throughy one of the apertures in said flange. Furtherit will be seen that the said abutment flange not only divides the compartment or peripheral chamber in front of vane 28d into two parts, but italso `divides in like manner .the compartment or chamber in the rear thereof. The practical effect is that'the part or division of the frstA mentioned chamber which is on the convex side of flange 26is already filled with a fresh charge, while ithat part or division thereofwhich is on the concave side of said flange is still discharging through exhaustport 33 the products of the last preceding explosion.l Furthermore, in the compartment to the rear of vane28d, the part or division thereof which is on the convex side of abutmentflange 26 has already come into communication with the intake 32., whereasvthe mainv portion thereof (that onthe concave side of the abutment flange 26) is fin communication `withthe exhaust port.

In order to meet these conditions it is necessary that the intake port 32 should be in communication with the annular space 2l' entirely across the rim of the rotor wheel,as` indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, said intakeport being in the form of a shallowgroove .in the inner surface of member 43I vpreceding charge. Imerit made" above that the several phases of the ofthe abutment housing, as indicated in Fig. 2,

For it will be understood that the Further it should be noted in this connection that, because of the Obliquity of vanes 28 and of the relative positions of the intake and exhaust ports, as pointed out above, each compartment in its turn begins the intake of a fresh charge before the compartmentnextfahead of it has nished discharging the products of explosion of its last This partly explains the statecycle of operations do. not follow each other in strict sequence, but overlap. This is true in respect to operations other than thefintake and exhaust.

Attention has been specially called to the fact that the annular space 2l at the periphery of the rotor in which the described cycles of operations take place, besides being divided into compartmentsor chambers by the oblique vanes 28, is divided also by the four abutment rings 26. There is, however, an important difference in that, whereas the vanes travel with the rotor, the rings 26 constitute partitions that are stationary relatively to the rotor. It will also be seen by reference to Fig. 4 that, as already stated, the two sets of partitions-vanes 28 and rings Zt-intersect practically at right angles to each other.

These arrangements and relative positions of the moving parts conduce to the accomplishment of the important objects of high efciency, smoothness of operation and the utilization of both sides of varies 28 and of rings 28.

Having described the intake and exhaust operations which take place at abutments 3l), we will now observe what takes place at the compression and expansion abutments Sa.

During the intake and exhaust operations described above, vane 28e, which constitutes the front wall of one of the two compartments under consideration, has been compressing before it against the concave'side of ring 26 of abutment 30a the charge taken in at inlet port 32, and the next operation is the transfer of the compres-sed charge from the chamber in front of said vane 28e to that in the rear thereof and from the con.- cave side of said ring 26 of abutment 30a to the convex side thereof; for obviously the explosions must take place on the rear of the piston-members 28 and on the convex sides of the relatively iixed abutment flanges 2E, which serve the purpose of the cylinder heads of reciprocating engines. This operation and the preferred means of its accomplishment will now be described, attention being specially called to thefact that, by reason of the relative positions of the moving parts and of the coordination and timing of their respective movements, the transfer of the compressed charge from front to rear of vane 28e (and of each vane in its turn) accomplishes also the transfer of said charge from the concave to the convex side of the cooperating abutment ring 2Q.

It will benoted also that the transfer of th charge from front to rear of the vane is accomplished-not by a movement in a backward direction, as the terms front and rear suggest, but

y by a movement sidewise with respect to the rotor,

notwithstanding it is from one peripheral chamber to that immediately in the rear thereof, is slightly forward with respect to the movement of the rotor, rather than backward.

The transfer of the compressed charge'takesl place through suitably formed and located by-pass channels such as -channel 34, which may be formed in the stator, as shown in Fig. 2. This transfer operation can be best explained by reference to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, in which the position of the by-pass 34 is indicated diagrammatically, it being understood that said by-pass in this case lies over the abutment ring or flange 2t (Fig. 2).

The compression and expansion abutments 30a, one of which is shown on a reduced scale in Fig. 5, differ from the intake and exhaust abutments in that they (the former) have. a series ofports 35 in the disk portion thereof, there being, in the construction illustrated in the drawings, five of these transfer ports, one in proximity to each-of the apertures .or passage-ways 3l Vthrough the iiange 26. The transfer ports 35 are so located .with respect to the axis of the abutment wheel that during the revolution of the latter they register successively with the admission end of bypass channels Sli (see also Fig. 2).

In the positions of the several parts shown in Fig. 6 a vane 28 is just entering a passage-way 3l through the ring or iiange of an abutment 38a, at which time the corresponding port 35 has some little distance to go before it registers with the admission end of by-pass 3d. Itis specially to be noted that this vane 28 in its advance has been crowding the gaseous charge (represented in these diagrams by. a stippled surface) against the relatively stationary flange 2li of the abutment. As this compression of the gaseous charge continues, the volumetric capacity of the space between vane 28 and ring or flange 2S becomes less and less and the degree of. compression becomes correspondingly greater and greater, until the movements of rotor 20 and of abutment 30a bring the parts vinto the positions shown in Fig. 7, where port 35 is just coming into registration with bypass 3d. By this time the triangular space into which the vane 28 has been crowding the gaseous charge has been diminished to a very small cubical capacity. Hence the charge has become highly compressed and combustible, and by the time the communication between port 35 and by-pass 34 has been cut 01T, that is, when the parts have come into the positions indicated in Fig. 8, the entire charge will have been expelled through said by-pass into the triangular space on the other side of said vane, between it and the convex side of abutment ring 26, which space has been increasing as to volumetric capacity proportionately to the decrease therein of the space on the other side of said ring.

Fig. 6 shows the gaseous charge entirely on the concave side of the abutment flange 26; Fig. '7 shows it as being still for the greater part on the concave side, but as partly on the convex side of said flange; and Fig. 8 shows it as being wholly on the convex side, which is the front or explosion side of the abutment. It will be seen that, owing to the relative positions of the moving parts, the transfer of the gaseous charge,- notwithstanding it is from the front to the rear side of vane 28, is from the rear to the front of abutment flange. f

The location of the spark plug or other suitable ignition device is indicated at 36, it being placed near the exit of by-pass channel 34, so that the explosion takes place'at theend of the "explosion abutment, and without supplying any additional parts or imparting any extra move ments to the existing parts; VWe have already seen how the intake and exhaust operations are likewise accomplished without the use of any Valves or other special members. f

It Will-be observed that the byepass 34, being in the cover member 43, which is part of the stator, is in a fixed location, Whereas the abutment flange 26, whichrit straddles at all times,`

so thatthe Aflange has a compression side and an explosionside, has 'a continuous rotary motion `but is stationary relatively to the rotor and its peripheral vanes 248; and further that at the instant of the transfer of a charge through the bypass 34 .the latter bestrides not only the flange 2B of the abutment but also one of the vanas 28. For a vane 28 is at `that time in the act of passing through one of the apertures 3| in flange 26. In so doing the vane Z8 is performing the necessary function of plugging' that aperture thereby pre`-` venting the passage of gas through the same.V

For, 4as shown in Fig. 6, vane 28 has begun to enter aperture 3| before the latter comes into communication with the space on the explosion side of abutment flange 26. By the `time that communication' is established vane 28 has completely `plugged said aperture, and before the vane has vpassed entirely through said aperture the rear endof the latteriwillhave` passed out of commnic'ation `with the peripheral lchamberon the compression side of vane 28 and of flange 26. Thus the abutment flange, although it has pas- `Sage-ways for ,the vaneis 28, nevertheless presents always an impassable barrier to the gaseous charge; and this is accomplishedwithout the addition of any special devices and without imparting additional motions to the members that are passing the varies through the passage-ways 3| in the abutment flanges is what makes the latter` impassable for the gases.` l

The transfer ports 35, are representedl as being ef circular shape in cross section,I but they may be of oblong, triangular or other shape, and their i size will obviously dependlupon conditionsk that are variable. ,i The intake and exhaust abutments 3U are in valli' respects `like the compression andl expansion abutments 30a, shown in lFig. 5,except that they have no ports corresponding` tothe ports 35 of the latter.-` Theintakeand exhaust operations at abutments 38 correspond in a way to the compression and expansion operations at abutments As shown in Fig. `5 theabutments 30ahave `a series of supplementalports 53 of relatively small v dian'ieter which registexfin turnwith the by-pass channel 34 in 'advance of the registry therewith of the rnainfpoitsI 35, "the vpurpose being, by a sudden puff of avery smalljet of compressed gas, to clear the" bypasschannel of all products of .the lastprecedingexplosion; in" other words, to

Thevery act oi scavenge' these bypass channels, by driving thea left over gases into theexhaust.` Y j En Figs. 9 and 10 illustrated a sealing device which may be used for the purpose `(if insuring tight joint between a vane 28 andthe flange 2G of-an abutment whilethe vane ispassing through]` an aperture 3| inthe flange; @The deviceffa's shown consists of 4a spring-pressed memberjin theform of' a p in liiiyhavinga 'curved'contour'f (though not necessarily cylindrical) `set loosely in a socketin thelange) which' socket hasa 1iar-A f row slot the full length `thereof openingntothe aperture The curved surfaceoi the sealing.' device le projects slightly through this openingV into said aperture, being heldin place with yield` l' l f ing pressurenbyA spring hilf vThusv while a vanvemis" passing through aperture-3i am close fit'is insured., l 'The intake of the gaseous chargev willnow be' described more in detail, referring specially to f Figs. 2 and 3, in which the preferred construcfY tion of the means utiliged forjthatpiirpose is);

illustrated. As shown in Fig. `2, there is a space 52 between one of the side walls 22 of` thestator, j;

(that on the left hand side thereof) and the ad?" jacent face of the rotor Wheel 12in Supported on 25'vr the Casing near the rotor shaft 281s la carburetor 50 of any known andsuitable construction where- 1 by,through a passage 5| in wall 22,`an explosive mixture of any known and suitable kind'is in? troduced into said space 52 and is sprayed against the face of rotor 20, being thereb`ypre-heated `and brought to ahigh degreeiof atomiization.`

Theface of the rotor is provided with a series of radiallydisposed blades52 whichfconstitutel in effect a.` super`-charger.

d: All,

As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 the gasepufs` y charge passes from carburetor 5,0 to the two inak take ports 32 and through these to thetwo upe-` ripherai chambers 'of` the Lrotor whichfatfthe moment are in the intake and exhaustusectornsof the stator and lcommunication withI the refspective inlet'ports., f" f The rest of the intake operation has been sum` ciently described above;

It is obvious that other means for supplying the engine with charges of a suitable explosive rni`x`` ture may be used in lieu of the devices described.

It is deemed to be an importantvfeature ,oi the ,l

invention Vthat fthe abutment Wheels are geared directly to, and hence are driven directly by,fthe rotor wheel, the result being that not onlyr is the number ofworking parts kept at a minimum but greater accuracy and certainty of operationarev Y insured, in that the possibility of mis-tuning is eliminated; A further u advantage is that the gearing isk allrenclosed in the stator and thereby at the periphery of the rotor where the maximum eiect thereof is obtained, Moreover, the formi 'j and position of the abutments are such that they offer the maximum resistance to the shock and pressure of the explosions. For these take place on the convex face of the abutment in a direc` tion that is normal thereto and that is at right 1 angles to the plane of the disk orflat partof the abutment, thatbeing .the line inwhich that part of the abutment offers the greatest ree sistance.

Irwin be noted that; in the embodiment orf the present invention herein described and i1lus` the crank shaft, to accomplish the four operations of intake, compression, expansion and exhaust, in the engine herein described each of the six Avaries or piston-members takes part twice during a single revolution of the rotor shaft in all the five operations above described as constituting a complete cycle. This comparison indicates that, other things being equal, there is an adlvantage of twenty-four to one in favor of the engine herein described.

Furthermore, whereas in the reciprocating engine the power developed by the explosions is communicated to the crank shaft at a point close to its axis, in the engine herein described the vpower is communicated to the rotor shaft at a point relatively more distant by several times from its axis, and hence with a leverage proportionately greater. The herein described rotary engine has therefore a far greater range of available and effective working pressure than is obtainable in engines of other types having pracftically the same brake horse power.

It will be understood that the foregoing description embraces matters which are not essential to the invention but are given by way of preference or of example only, and hence modifications may be made in details of construction Without departure from the essence of the invention as specified in the following claims.

In the following claims the term rotary engine is to be' understood as embracing any and every sort of a rotary organization wherein the features of the invention specified could be used.

What is claimed asV new is 1. The combination with the stator, of the rotor mounted for rotation therein having a series of peripheral chambers separated from one another by obliquely disposed vanes, a plurality of rotary annular abutments located around said rotor and geared thereto, said abutments being provided with apertures properly located and shaped for the passage of said vanes, one abutment being located between an inlet and an exhaust port in said stator, and another abutment being adjacent to a by-pass channel whereby the gaseous charge is transferred from one peripheral chamber to another and from one side to the other of an abutment.

. 2. The combination with the stator, of the rotor mounted for rotation therein having a series of peripheral chambers separated from one another by obliquely disposed vanes, a plurality of rotary annular abutments located around said rotor and geared thereto, said abutments being provided with apertures properly located and shaped for the passage of said vanes, one abutment being located between an inlet and an exhaust port in said stator, and another being adjacent to a bypass channel whereby the'gaseous charge is transferred from one peripheral chamber to another and from one side to the other of an abutment, there being two of each of the specified kinds of abutment arranged in alternation around said rotor.

3. In a rotary engine and in combination with the stator and 'rotor members thereof, the latter having peripheral chambers separated from each other by oblique vanes, a plurality of rotary annular abutments which intersect the plane of rotation of said rotor, means for supplying an explosive mixture to said peripheral chambers on path of said vanes, said abutment being pro-vided with apertures for the passage of said vanes, and a .by-pass so located as to transfer the chaige in one passing peripheral chamber to the next adjacent thereto and simultaneously from one side to the other of the intersecting abutment, the transfer being timed to take place when a vane is in the act of passing through an aperture in the said abutment.

5. A rotary engine comprising a stator member, a rotor mounted for rotation in bearings therein and forming in conjunction therewith a series of peripheral chambers, a series of rotary annular abutments which intersect the path of said peripheral chambers, said abutments being disposed at equal distances apart around the rim of said rotor and being geared directly thereto, means for supplying to each chamber successively a gaseous charge on one side of an abutment, means for transferring said charge to the other side thereof and to another peripheral chamber, ignition means in position to fire the transferred charge, and an exhaust passage for the discharge of the products of combustion after the expansion thereof.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane; a rotary abutment of annular form; means for supplying an explosive compound to a space bounded in part by one of the curved sides of said abutment; and means for transferring the same to the opposite side thereof for explosion.

7. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane; a rotary abutment of annular form disposed tangentially to said rotor; means for supplying an explosive compound to a space bounded in part by one of the curved sides of said abutment; and means for transferring the same to the opposite side thereof for explosion.

8. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein; and two ring-shaped rotary abutments each performing functions of a character different from those performed by the other.

9. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane two ring-shaped rotary abutments; and intake and exhaust means associated with one of said abutments and compression and explosion means associated with the other abutment.

10. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein; and two ring-shaped rotary abutments disposed tangentially to said rotor, each performing functions of a character different from those performed Aby the other.

11. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a'piston vane obliquely disposed on its periphery; and a rotary abutment of annular form also mounted therein for cooperation with said rotor.

12. The combination with thestator, of a rotor mounted therein ,and having a piston vane obliquely disposed on its periphery; and a rotary abutment of annular form also mountedin said stator andydisposed,v tangentially to Said rotor for cooperation therewith. g l

13. Then combinatonwith the stator, of a rotor mountedv therein and having a piston vane obliquely disposed on its periphery; an abutment of annular form rotatably mounted for cooperation withsaid rotor; and means. associated with said abutmentrfor vtransferring an explosive charge from' oneside thereof tothe other. l l

14. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a pistonv vane obliquelydisposed on its periphery; an abutment of 'annular form rotatably mounted forcooperation with said rotor; and compression and explosion means associated with said second abutment.`

1.6. The combinationw with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having two piston vanes obliquelyr disposed on its periphery; an abutment oI- annular form` rotatably mounted for cooperation Witlof said rotor and disposed tangentially therei to; intake and exhaust means associated'with said abutment; a second abutment of annular form rotatably mounted for cooperation vwith said rotor and disposed tangentially thereto; and compression and explosion means associated with said second abutment.

17. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston Vane obliquely disposed on its periphery; an abutment o1 annular form rotatably mounted in said stator; intermeshing gear teeth on said rotor and abutment; and intake and exhaust means associated with said abutment.

18. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane obliquely disposed on its periphery; an abutment of annular form rotatably mounted in said stator and disposed tangentially to said rotor, said abutment and rotor having thereon intermeshing gear teeth; and intake and exhaust means associated with said abutment.

19. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane obliquely disposed on its periphery; an abutment of annular form rotatably mounted in said stator; intermeshing gear teeth on said rotor and abutment; and means for transferring an explosive charge from one side to the other of said abutment.

20. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane and gear teeth on its periphery; and an abutment of annular form having gear teeth which engage those on said rotor.

21. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane and gear teeth on its periphery; an abutment of annular form having gear teeth which engage those on said rotor; and intake and exhaust means associated with said abutment.

22. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane and gear teeth on its periphery; an abutment of annular form having gear teeth which engage those on said rotor; and means associated with said abutment for transferring an explosive charge from one side thereof to the other.

23.` In` a rotary engine, the combination with the rotor having an oblique piston vane and oblique gear teeth, of a. rotary abutment of annular form having an aperture` suitably shaped and located for the passage of said piston vane and oblique teeth engagingthose on'said rotor.

24. `In a rotary internal combustion engine, the

piston vane and oblique gear teeth, of a rotary abutment of annular form provided with an aperture suitably shaped and located for the passage of said piston vane andwith gear teeth engaging l0. combination with ithe rotor having an oblique those on said rotor,` one side of` said abutment l serving for the compression of the gaseous charge and thev other for the explosionthereof.

25.. In a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination with the rotor having an oblique piston vane and oblique gear teeth, of two rotary `abutments of annular form, each having'anaperture suitably shaped and located for the passage of said piston vane and oblique teeth engaging those of said rotor, one of said abutments servingfor the intake `and exhaust ofthe 'explosive charge., and the other for the compression and b explosion thereof. f

26. In combinatiomza rotor having on its rim a plurality of oblique piston vanes; a plurality of annular rotary abutments crossing the rim of said rotor andhaving apertures for the passage-of said vanes, the Obliquity of the latter being such that the intersection of said abutments with the plane oi said rotor is approximately at right ancharge to one side of each .abutment in proximity to its intersection with a vane; and means for transferring said charge to the other side of said abutment.

27. In combination, a rotor having radial piston vanes obliquely disposed on its rim and dividing the same into a series of peripheral chambers; a plurality of rotary abutments in the form of rings which cross the rim of said rotor and have apertures for the passage of said vanes; means for admitting a gaseous charge to each of said chambers in succession, said means comprising intake passages which extend across the rim of the rotor; and means for transferring said charge from one peripheral chamber to another and from one side of each abutment to the other.

28. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane and gear teeth on its periphery; and a cooperating rotary annular abutment having one or more openings therethrough for the passage of the piston vane and gear teeth thereon projecting in a direction approximately parallel to the axis or the abutment and intermeshing with the gear teeth on the rotor.

29. In a rotary engine, the combination with the rotor having an oblique piston vane and oblique gear teeth, of a rotary abutment of annular form having an aperture suitably shaped and located for the lpassage of said piston vane and oblique gear teeth projecting in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the abutment and intermeshing with said gear teeth on the rotor.

30. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotor having gear teeth at the periphery thereof, of a cooperating rotary abutment having gear teeth thereon projecting in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the abutment and intermeshing with said gear teeth on the rotor.

3l. The combination with a stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having a piston vane and gear teeth on its periphery; and a cooperating abutment rotatable in. a plane approximately tangential to the periphery of said rotor and having one or more openings for the passage of the piston vane and gear teeth projecting in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the abutment and intermeshing with the gear teeth on the rotor.

32. In a rotary engine, the combination with the rotor having on its periphery an oblique piston vane and oblique gear teeth, of a cooperating abutment rotatable in a plane approximately tangential .to the periphery of said rotor and having an aperture suitably shaped. and locatedfor the passage of said piston vane and oblique gear teeth projecting in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the abutment and intermeshing with Said gear teeth on the rotor.

33. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotor having gear teeth on its periphery, of a cooperating abutment rotatable in a plane approximately tangential to the periphery of said rotor and having gear teeth thereon projecting in a direction approximately parallel to the axis of the abutment and intermeshing with said gear teeth on the rotor.

34. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having on its periphery a piston vane and gear teeth; a plurality of rotary abutments of annular form each having an opening for the passage of said piston vane and gear teeth projecting in a direction approximately parallel to its axis and intermeshing with said gear teeth on the rotor; means for supplying an explosive charge to a space bounded in part by one side of each abutment for the compression of said charge between said piston vane and said abutment; and means for transferring the compressed charge to the opposite side of each abutment for explosion.

35. The combination with the stator, of a rotor mounted therein and having on its periphery gear teeth and a plurality of piston vanes; a plurality of rotary abutments of annular form and each having one or more openings for the passage of said piston vanes and gear teeth projecting in a direction approximately parallel to its axis and intermeshing with said gear teeth on the rotor; means for supplying an explosive charge to a space bounded in part by one side of an abutment for the compression of said charge between the same and one of said piston vanes; and means for transferring the compressed charge to the opposite side of said abutment for explosion.

36. The combination with the stator, of a rotor therein and having on its periphery gear teeth and two piston vanes; a plurality of rotary abutmentsof annular form and each having one or more openings for the passage of said piston vanes and gear teeth projecting in a direction approximately parallel to its axis and intermeshing with said gear teeth on the rotor; compression and explosion means associated with one of said abutinents; and exhaust and intake means assooiated with the other of said abutments.

JOHN ARCHBOLD. CHARLES PARKER. 

